Grand France River Cruise 2015 – New Date Added by Popular Demand

Is France on your Bucket List? CruiseExperts.com is offering an exquisite 15-day river cruise that takes you on a tour of “Grand France”. The best part? You can save almost $4,000 per person with CruiseExperts.com’s exclusive pricing on this one tour.  Last month, we offered a similar Grand France river cruise, and it was so popular, we SOLD OUT! So, we have formed a new tour on a new date.

Here are the details:

15 days – Grand France: “Normandy to Paris to Arles”
May 18 – June 2, 2015
EXCLUSIVE PRICING – $5,999 per person

This package includes FREE Air from most major gateway cities including transfers and a FREE upgrade to a French Balcony Stateroom. You can upgrade to the top deck for only $99 per person additional. Secondary gateway cities are also available, just call CruiseExperts.com for pricing.

This splendid vacation showcases France’s exciting scenery, history, and culture while sailing its beautiful rivers. Embark in Paris and head up the Seine River to the picturesque Normandy region. In Vernon, visit Claude Monet’s stunning gardens at Giverny or magnificent Bizy Castle. Continue to Les Andelys then on to Caudebec, where you choose between an excursion to Normandy’s historic landing beaches or an interesting “Taste of Normandy.” Continue on to Joan of Arc’s historic Rouen, Conflans then back to Paris for sightseeing that includes the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower. Disembark and ride the high speed TGV train to Dijon, then travel south to fascinating Beaune. In Chalon-sur-Saône, board your second cruise ship and sail on to Tournus, Mâcon, Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage, Viviers, Avignon, and Arles and Lyon, where you have time to explore this fascinating city.

Your European River Cruise Includes:

• Guided shore excursions in every port stop included
• Deluxe river cruise ships: the Avalon Creativity and Scenery
• All meals included on the cruise, complimentary regional wines and beer at every dinner

Government  taxes and fees are $294 per person, and gratuities are also additional. Trip Insurance (optional) is priced from $366 per person (depends on age).

You can extend your trip with days before or after the cruise….. for only $99 per person, extend your stay for one night at the 5-Star Falmont Monte Carlo with a half day tour of the Cote d’Azur.

Here is your 15-Day Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Paris, France (Embarkation)

Welcome to Paris, France’s capital on the River Seine, the “City of Light,” where romance fills the air. This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at an evening welcome reception. Before dinner, your ship glides smoothly out of Paris.

Day 2: Vernon – Les Andelys

 This morning in Vernon, choose between a guided visit of Giverny and a visit to Bizy Castle. Claude Monet lived at  Giverny from 1883-1926, and viewed his gardens as works of art – just like his paintings. See his collection of Japanese prints, his charming house, and his biggest sources of inspiration. Or, visit Bizy Castle, built in 1740 and nicknamed “Normandy’s Versailles.” It is known for its famous stables and its magnificent courtyard and water garden. After lunch, join an onboard pastry demonstration before your ship arrives in Les Andelys, situated on a bend of the Seine. Join a Local Guide for a walk of the town, visiting the Parish Church of Le Grand Andely. Imposing Château Gaillard is seen above the town. Constructed in only a year, it is a masterpiece of medieval military architecture.

Day 3: Caudebec

 Today, either join an excursion along the Route des Chaumières to see some of Normandy’s charming and traditional half-timbered houses with their long, sloping thatched roofs, often sporting blue wooden doors and window shutters, or visit Jumieges Abbey, a former Benedictine Abbey church considered one of the most ancient and important monasteries in the western world. The afternoon is free to explore on your own or to join an optional excursion to the pretty coastal town of Honfleur. Before dinner, you may wish to attend an onboard lecture about D-Day.

Day 4: Caudebec

Make your choice today between an included full-day excursion to the historic Normandy Landing Beaches – with poignant sites such as Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery – or a “Taste of Normandy”” for a more in-depth look at this picturesque, mainly agricultural region. The most important products are dairy, apples, and grain. Camembert cheese is a specialty, as is Calvados, a strong apple brandy that you’ll have the chance to taste at a local distillery. And for a touch of history, visit the famous Bayeux Tapestry.

Day 5: Rouen

Rouen, the capital of Upper Normandy, is an important commercial city perhaps best known for its connection to Joan of Arc, who lived, was imprisoned, and burned at the stake in the marketplace of this town in 1431. Enjoy the included guided walk through the medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed-tile houses, and take your pictures of the intricate Gros Horloge astronomical clock, dating back to the 16th century. Visit the gothic cathedral, which was once the tallest building in the world and the subject of a series of paintings by Claude Monet. The afternoon is free to explore on your own.

Day 6: Conflans – Paris

After breakfast you may either join our guided excursion to Auvers-sur-Oise, the quaint little town where Vincent Van Gogh lived and died, or to Napoleon and Josephine’s Chateau de Malmaison just outside Paris. Requiring extensive renovations, this large country estate was purchased by Josephine Bonaparte in 1799 while Napoleon was fighting in Egypt. It was her aim to make it “the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe, a model of good cultivation.” This evening, arrive in Paris.

Day 7: Paris

One of the world’s most romantic and lively cities, Paris delights the senses. Included city sightseeing shows off the must-see attractions: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. Alternatively, you may wish to join a guided walk through historic IÎe St. Louis with its narrow one-way streets and IÎe de la Cité, the center of Paris where the medieval city was founded and home to Notre Dame Cathedral. In your free time, stroll down the Champs-Elysées with its lavish cafés,or perhaps visit the world-famous Louvre or Montmartre with its Sacré Coeur Basilica and bevy of artists on Place du Tertre. Paris is known for its colorful nightlife, and an optional outing to the famed Moulin Rouge cabaret makes the perfect finale to the Seine portion of your cruise.

Day 8: Paris (Disembarkation) Dijon – Beaune – Chalon-sur-Saône (Embarkation) – Tournus

This morning, say goodbye to your crew and board the TGV train to Dijon. From there, drive to Beaune, which owes its wealth to the production, aging, and selling of fine wines. Beaune offers much more than wine. Choose a guided visit to the Hotel-Dieu charity hospital, built in 1443 and after the Hundred Years’ War which left many of the town’s population destitute. Today, it houses Van der Weyden’s painting of The Last Judgment. Alternatively, enjoy a tasting of Burgundy wines before continuing south to Chalon-sur-Saône, where your ship awaits. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception as you depart for Tournus.

Day 9: Tournus – Mâcon

After breakfast, your local guide will show you the highlights of this delightful town in the southeast corner of Burgundy. Tournus is one of the oldest and most important monastic centers in the region, with a superb ABBEY, St. Philibert, part of which dates back to the 10th century. There’s free time to stroll through the quaint streets or to explore the arts and crafts shops near the abbey. After lunch, your ship departs for Mâcon, a city that plays an important role in the wine trade. A choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available. Before dinner, enjoy an onboard cheese tasting.

Day 10: Beaujolais Region – Lyon

This afternoon, arrive in Lyon, France’s third-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, excellent museums, and renaissance architecture delight visitors. A local guide joins you as you survey the city from Fourvière Hill and explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways and Place des Terreaux, a popular area with lively cafés, monuments, and the famous fountain often depicted on postcards. Before dinner tonight, attend an onboard lecture and learn more about the French.

Day 11: Lyon

Enjoy a free day to explore at leisure. Early risers might like to visit the local produce market. Perhaps wander through one of Lyon’s parks, discover some of the murals (there are over 100 of them), or select one of the available optional excursions. Be sure to taste the gastronomic delights and sample Beaujolais, the wine of the region; wine connoisseurs know the grapes must be hand picked. Your onboard Cruise Director will have suggestions for things to do.

Day 12: Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage – Viviers

The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. A local guide will show you Tournon, one of France’s oldest medieval cities, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins. As you cruise to Viviers, there’s a treat in store for chocoholics: an onboard chocolate tasting to delight the palate. Arriving in Viviers in the late afternoon, an included guided walk shows you this charming town that developed around its Romanesque Cathedral. The Old Town has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences.

Day 13: Avignon

The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse region—the most picturesque part of Provence with its intact ramparts encircling the entire city, cobblestone streets and squares, and private mansions built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Known as the “City of Popes,” it was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century. Your guided tour includes a visit of the Palace of the Popes, built in the 14th century as the sovereign popes’ residency. A photo of the famous Pont Saint Bénezet (Saint Bénezet Bridge), of the popular song Sur le Pont d’Avignon, is a must. Optional outings to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du- Pape are available.

Day 14: Arles-Camargue Region

On arrival in Arles, located on the northern tip of the Camargue and the capital of the Provence region, your local guide will show you highlights of the city and you’ll visit the Roman Ampitheater. Still used today, it dates to the 1st century and was constructed to hold over 20,000 spectators. This evening, sail toward the mouth of the Rhône for a taste of the tranquil vistas of Camargue National Park.

Day 15: Arles (Disembarkation) – Côte d’Azur

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning and a transfer to the airport.

This amazing Avalon Waterways European river cruise is not available to book online. For more information and detailed terms and conditions, please call our friendly, helpful travel advisors at 1-888-804-CRUISE (2784). For other cruise vacations, check out our website at www.CruiseExperts.com.